Roll Away Your Stone 16/18
Series: Secret
Story: Roll Away Your Stone
Chapter: You’ve Come Too Far
Rating: R
Pairing: Nikki/Nora
Disclaimer/Details of Participation/Terms & Conditions: Not mine, no monies are being made and if I were to bill the owners my hourly rate...well...you get the idea. Oh, yeah, since like ch. 6 this has been unbeta'd...epp! All missing words and misspellings...are my dog's fault. =0)
A/N: G’mornin’, I don’t have much for yinz guys. Two more chapters after this and then we’re good. I need to start the next arc, but before that I need to finish a side project for IDF and get the finalized versions of a couple of group projects I have cooking.
So…take care, enjoy the read and the rest of the week (Friday’s in one more day…that’s been my mantra since I woke up)…
1Sb
Ch. 16 - You’ve Come Too Far
“Det. Barrett,” a young woman in uniform holding another banker’s box interrupts us. She stands off to the side between our two desks and asks, “Where would you like this?”
Dom doesn’t even look away from the computer screen, but does stop twirling the pen in his hands as he answers, “Drop it here,” he points at her feet. Something grabs his attention and the pen gets clamped between his teeth as he hammers away at his keyboard and grunts.
The uniform shrugs her shoulders and drops the box at her feet. She looks me over and offers a tentative smile. I nod in return then go back to Logan’s clients holdings that his secretary sent over. I made sure to grab mine and Nora’s box. I’m sure there is one or two things in the now two other boxes that need to be sorted, but I can lessen the impact. Grabbing a thick black Sharpie, I draw a solid line through my name and Nora’s.
“Ya’ll are getting buried in paperwork,” Benny slides up to us to perch on the edge of my desk.
“Way to state the obvious, Armstrong,” I grouse.
“Hey, Delaney, get your ass over here and help your partners,” Benny yells across three desks to his partner.
Her head pops up from behind her own monitor with a scowl firmly planted on her beautiful face.
“Come on, Delaney,” Dom urges her.
The frown deepens, but she does stand, ambling over our way.
“Why?” she asks once she’s standing in front of Benny. The near pout, a bottom lip protruding for the briefest of moments, disappears before it gets sucked between her teeth.
“Just ‘cause you…” Dom trails off finally looking away from the computer screen to see the scowl being sent his way.
I’m sure that finding her petulance and surly attitude sexy does nothing for me at this moment, but given the day, I enjoy it just the same.
“Hey,” Benny tries to de fuse the potentially bloody situation, “So let me get this right, you,” he points to me, “are still technically only cleared for desk duty,” he points to Nora, “and you went and got…well that is, Dan assigned you to desk duty?” He licks his lips and scoots back a little.
Nora nods. I say, “That would be correct.”
“So, if you two are stuck at your desks, technically,” he drawls slowly, “don’t that mean that Dominic and I are working this case together?”
My eyebrows hike and I look at Nora. Her head’s cocked to the side, digesting the obvious information.
“Huh,” Dom grunts, “Shit, well don’t that beat all.” He smiles a smug little smile and leans back, lacing his fingers behind his head.
He’s right. By default that puts Nora and I together.
That little shit.
I shake my head as a small grin breaks out across Nora’s face.
“Best damn news I’ve had all fucking day,” she finally breathes. Smacking Benny on the thigh, she directs, “All right get your ass up and get us some chairs. We’ve got some paperwork to sift through.”
Benny wiggles his eyebrows, proud of his accomplishment. Really, getting Nora to crack a grin after her and Dan go at it really is a miracle. He hops off my desk and rounds up two chairs.
Nora slides next to me and elbows me over. “So, what have we got?” she asks grabbing a stack of files.
“We were checking to see if there were any accounts that were volatile, maybe money missing, something that looked hinky or ya know enraging,” Dom supplies.
“Hmm,” Nora hums. “We call Charlie?”
“Yeah, he won’t be able to get to Lo’s body until tomorrow morning,” I answer. “He did approximate a time of death.”
“Which is?” Benny asks from his spot next to Dom.
“Anywhere from five to seven hours from the time the body was discovered,” I answer.
“Okay, so, Mrs. Walker said that she talked to Logan around ten p.m. , Nik, we were interrupted by Dom’s call around five-twen…” she trails off realizing her error.
“Five-twenty, ‘cause I called you shortly aft…” I try to cover up.
Dominic and Benny just shake their heads, grins threatening to break free. Dom holds out his hand and makes the ‘come-on’ motion to Benny. Rolling his eyes, Benny sighs and reaches for his wallet, pulls out a few twenties and slaps them in Dom’s outstretched hand. The other detective just grins and stuffs them in his pants’ pocket.
“So, you got the call at five-twenty,” Benny finishes Nora’s thought after he tucks his wallet away, “If the missus spoke to him at say ten then that means there’s a six and a half hour window. The cleaning lady called it in at four-forty-two a.m.”
“Let’s clock it at ten-thirty,” Dom picks up, “So that leaves us with a little over thirty-two hours to break this case open.” Dom shakes his head.
“We’re workin’ it from the wrong angle,” Nora’s voice comes back. “We’ve got a limited window. It’s gotta be someone he was expecting. We need his phone records, cell and business, yesterday.”
“I can do that,” Benny says. “Sharla, this little redhead at the phone company, is sweet on me, I can see if she can speed up the process.”
“We get anything from security?” Nora asks, toeing one of the boxes that have not been opened.
I tap two video cassettes on top of my desk that are off to the left.
“Why don’t you two go shake those phone records loose and Nikki and I’ll watch these, see if there’s anything here,” Nora stands and grabs the tapes.
Benny and Dom give a nod and gather their coats and keys to leave. Nora waits on me as I close up my desk and lock my computer. We’re about ready to head to the video room when Benny and Dom swing back around our way.
“We’ll give you two a call if we hit anything major,” Benny says. Pausing, he looks between the two of us then leans forward, dropping his voice, he whispers conspiratorially, “As careful as you two are, just remember to lock that vid room door; we wouldn’t anyone walkin’ in, ya know.” He pulls back, eyebrows dancing merrily and saunters away. Dom chuckles softly following him.
The heels of my hands rub at my eyes and I blink to try and clear the spots. Sitting here for the last three hours looking at grainy security footage has not been fun. Not only has it not been fun, but it’s given us absolutely nothing.
Nora must agree as she hits stop on the VCR. “So,” she groans and arcs back to stretch, “We’ve got an unidentified meeting Logan at ten-fifty-three…that’s all. They didn’t leave and we can’t tell if they were male or female.”
I run a hand through my hair and groan. “Probably the killer though,” I offer with little enthusiasm.
“Let’s hope Benny and Dom get something with the phone records, maybe that’ll help.” Nora stands and begins to put away the equipment when there’s a rap at the door.
A blonde head pokes through and I smile at the blue eyes and wide grin.
“I’m looking for one Det. Nikki Beaumont,” Jen drawls, stepping all the way in and shutting the door gently behind her.
Nora looks between the two of us and points to me. “You found her.”
Chuckling, I step up to the room’s new occupant and offer her a hug. “What are you doing here?” I ask as I let her go.
“Wanted to drop a few things off that might be of interest to you. Some of the files Logan had on his desk at Tilton,” Jen tells me and stretches out her hand to Nora, “Jennifer Scivik.”
Nora’s manners come out and she takes Jen’s greeting. “Det. Nora Delaney.”
Jen’s mouth slips open and she breathes, “Nice to finally meet The Infamous Nora Delaney?”
“Nik?” Nora questions.
Oh, boy.
I swallow and bite the bullet, “Jen’s a friend, Nora. She’s also the Vice President of Operations and Logan’s right hand gal at the firm.”
“Just a friend?” Jen chides lightly, “It appears all that I am is a mere speck of light in our beloved Beaumont’s time before she was transferred to this unit…and partnered with you.”
“You?” Nora snaps.
“Nora, please?” I ask gently.
Taken a little aback, Jen lays a hand to her chest and apologizes, “Sorry, detective, I didn’t mean…”
Nora just shakes her head and asks, “So you two were…”
Holding her hand up, Jen explains, “Many years ago, detective. She quit looking my way about the same time she started up here.”
“Jen, you make it sound so…” I chastise her.
“I’m sorry again. I like to tease Nikki here. I didn’t mean to step on any toes,” Jen apologizes again. “Really, I knew she was a goner the minute she started gushing about her new partner.”
Nora’s eyebrows hike, but she says, “Well, I’ll leave you two to catch up. I’m going to check in with the boys.”
I watch her scurry off, the door to the vid room closing a little too harshly for my tastes.
Jen winces. “I think I may have made you sleep on the couch tonight, didn’t I?”
I don’t dignify the question with a response and instead watch her as she moves to the table and takes my vacated seat. “You were trying to get me into trouble?” I finally ask.
Jennifer smirks and says, “Honestly, I’m not sure. I did drop off some files, gave them to a Dan Harney. He directed me here.”
“And you just had to see for yourself?” I saunter over to Nora’s chair and ease myself into it.
My blonde ex shrugs. “Are you telling me that if the roles were reversed…”
“I’m telling you that I never held anything back Jennifer and what I’ve told you has been in the strictest of confidence…” I interrupt her to remind her.
“So saying hello to the woman that you’ve talked to me about was a breach of that confidence? Jesus, Nikki I just said hello. I thought…”
I shake my head. “We’re at work. You know we can’t out ourselves here.”
She finally ducks her head and sighs. “I’m sorry. I just didn’t…I thought since no one was around it would be okay.”
“You thought wrong,” I say simply.
She nods and agrees, “It seems I did. I’m sorry.” She raises her head and looks me over. “You never told her about me?”
I shake my head. “We stopped seeing each other my first week here.”
“No sense bringing up the past?” she asks a little bitterly.
“No sense in stirring a pot that was removed from the fire,” I answer honestly.
“Right,” she breathes, running her hands along her thighs. “So, I’m out of line and a little embarrassed. You always did hold that hand of yours too close to your chest.”
“Only way to play good poker,” I smile at her this time, knowing she’s been properly put in her place.
“And you play a helluva hand.”
I dip my chin and fold my arms over my chest. “So, what was our dear Logan working on?”
“I brought the files for you to go over. The Renaissance House was his primary project. It took up a lot of his time. A lot of the organizations time. I brought you most of that and some additional paperwork that I need your signature on.”
“Of course,” I groan. “Sorry I haven’t been in…”
“You were shot. I swung by a few times, but you were either sleeping, being guarded by that cop of yours and one time you were gone - the nurse said testing. I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to see you.” She points to my hair and whistles.
“You didn’t meet Nora then?” I wonder.
She shakes her head. “She didn’t look up to it and I didn’t think…well, it didn’t seem the right time to introduce myself.”
“That was a kindness, thanks Jen,” I smirk.
“Well, sometimes I know when to not pull the claws out.” She blows off my olive branch and stands. “I’ll let you and the other detectives get to work. I want to see the bastard that killed Lo strung up. I’m glad you’re working on it.”
Standing with her, I head to the door and direct her out. She slides up next to me, her hand rests over mine pressing my hand into the door knob before she says, “She’s cute in that surly sort of way.”
I grin. “She’s amazing.”
“She would have to be if she’s keeping you. Do me a favor and apologize for me?”
I nod as she kisses my cheek and then strides down the hall to the stairwell.
I sigh and hang my head. Guess it’s time for some damage control.
Pinching the button on my blouse, I use the cotton material to fan myself. A bead of sweat trickles behind my ear and down my neck. Glancing at the other detectives, they don’t look near as warm as I do.
Nora looks up just then and locks her green eyes on to mine. “What’s wrong?”
Benny and Dom both look up from the file the three of them were looking over to see what Nora was talking about.
“Hot,” I say.
“Here,” Benny glides away from the table to the small thermostat by the door. “It’s at seventy-two. Hmm.” He fiddles with a knob or a button and I hear the air conditioning unit kick on. A cool breeze washes over me and I sigh.
“I may just have to plant one on you, Armstrong. Thank you,” I say gratefully.
“Hey, you ain’t gettin’ me shot. How about I take a nice handshake and we call it square,” he smiles as he walks back over to the table and plops down in his chair.
“You two were the only ones involved in that little wager?” Nora surprises us all by asking.
Dom and Benny both flush at the question.
“Nora, I don’t…” I try to warn her off but she shakes her head.
“Look, it’s obvious they think they know something. I want to know.” She’s adamant about this. I shrug. We talked over lunch about their exchange and about Jen. She was far calmer about the bet than she was Jen.
I suppose if I were in her shoes…
Well, Ann and Jill still cause small bouts of jealousy and insecurity, but not like they used to. If I’m honest, the first time I saw the three of them together, I wanted to rip Jill’s lips off while I cut Ann’s hands off.
The homicidal urges faded after a couple of years.
Now they just flirt with me as shamelessly as they flirt with Nora.
My girl doesn’t seem to mind when they do it, but anyone else…she’s impossible to manage.
Dom and Benny exchange a glance before Dom’s mouth opens, “Just us.”
Nora nods. “We going to have problems?”
Benny’s face pinches, but Dom’s clouds over as he balks, “I’d take a bullet for you Delaney. You really going to insult me by asking if I have a problem with which gender you like to do the horizontal hip to hip with?”
Nora doesn’t move and doesn’t answer. Dom carries on, “Just ‘cause I say some backwater bullshit don’t mean I’m backwater. Can’t have the rooks thinking we’re all touchy-feely like Benny, what good would that do them? They’d get their asses shot up for being bleeding heart pansies.” He grins at Nora and I, offering me a wink and a smirk. “Don’t mean I can’t set ‘em straight when they say some ignorant shit. Besides, it’s the best way to get a rise out of Benny. He’s so goddamn Zen about shit I need to ruffle those feathers somehow.”
“What that dipshit next to you is trying to say, both of you, we got your back…all of it,” Benny butts in. “You got people on your side here.”
Nora’s shoulders droop a little and she asks, “You two find anything in the phone records?”
Dom shakes his head. “There was a repeated phone number that matches the T.O.D. or there about, but it’s a prepaid phone. No name.”
“Well, all of Logan’s investment records are in order. He was doing well with the investments for Nora and me,” I fill in.
“If it wasn’t a client for his business, you both agree that it wasn’t a personal grudge,” Dom thinks out loud, “Then what about from your charity?”
“I just…we went over a few of those files; the Renaissance House was taking up a huge chunk of time. Logan usually isn’t one to be so hands on…not like he was for this project.” I shake my head.
“What exactly is it?” Benny asks pulling a stack of papers his way. He shifts and loosens the maroon tie around his neck and pops the top two buttons on his once crisp white shirt.
“It’s a transition house. From the executive overview that was given before I green lighted the project, Logan proposed a house that helped women and children in transition. Either coming from a battered women’s shelter, homeless shelter, jail, halfway house or the streets. It was a place they could stay; get help finding employment and a place to live. Logan wanted the place to also offer a low income daycare,” I answer and lean back in my chair lacing my hands over my stomach. “This was his baby.”
Dom’s eyebrows knit together and he asks, “He ever show any interest in this before?”
I shake my head. “Not really. Logan focused a lot on kids.” A wry smile breaks out and I say, “Well, he also funneled some money in to the N.O.P.D. He said that if I was working for it, they should have better equipment. He was able to get those new vests and emergency response vehicles for the department.”
“So why the shift in focus?” Nora wonders.
I shake my head. “I don’t know, but I loved the idea so I didn’t think much of it.”
“It’s worth a deeper look at,” Dom presses.
“Who else would know?” Benny leans forward; his arms fold across the table top.
“My aunt would, Tia maybe.” My mouth screws to the side before I lick my lips and decide, “Why don’t you two go talk to Tia, maybe she’ll give you guys some different information. I’ll take Nora with me to my aunt’s; see if she can shed some light.”
“You don’t think your friend was honest?” Benny prods.
“Could be that Mrs. Walker will look at you differently and be more forthcoming. We use our badge to make people nervous and talk,” Nora answers for me. “I think what Nikki is thinking is that Tia will be more nervous and say something that she usually wouldn’t in front of a friend.”
“Ah,” Benny bobs his head, “Can’t hurt. We’ve got nothing else.”
“How you gonna clear this with Dan?” Dom stands and begins organizing the papers.
I look down at my watch, look back up and grin, “It’s five-twenty-eight, what I do off the clock doesn’t concern Dan Harney.”
Waggling his finger at me, Benny smiles. “I like the way you work Beaumont. I like the way you work.”
“So we’ll go do a quick interview and then meet back here in the a.m.?” Nora stands along with the rest of us and helps Dom in his task.
“Aye, Aye, Cap’n,” Benny salutes.
Next>>>
Story: Roll Away Your Stone
Chapter: You’ve Come Too Far
Rating: R
Pairing: Nikki/Nora
Disclaimer/Details of Participation/Terms & Conditions: Not mine, no monies are being made and if I were to bill the owners my hourly rate...well...you get the idea. Oh, yeah, since like ch. 6 this has been unbeta'd...epp! All missing words and misspellings...are my dog's fault. =0)
A/N: G’mornin’, I don’t have much for yinz guys. Two more chapters after this and then we’re good. I need to start the next arc, but before that I need to finish a side project for IDF and get the finalized versions of a couple of group projects I have cooking.
So…take care, enjoy the read and the rest of the week (Friday’s in one more day…that’s been my mantra since I woke up)…
1Sb
Ch. 16 - You’ve Come Too Far
“Det. Barrett,” a young woman in uniform holding another banker’s box interrupts us. She stands off to the side between our two desks and asks, “Where would you like this?”
Dom doesn’t even look away from the computer screen, but does stop twirling the pen in his hands as he answers, “Drop it here,” he points at her feet. Something grabs his attention and the pen gets clamped between his teeth as he hammers away at his keyboard and grunts.
The uniform shrugs her shoulders and drops the box at her feet. She looks me over and offers a tentative smile. I nod in return then go back to Logan’s clients holdings that his secretary sent over. I made sure to grab mine and Nora’s box. I’m sure there is one or two things in the now two other boxes that need to be sorted, but I can lessen the impact. Grabbing a thick black Sharpie, I draw a solid line through my name and Nora’s.
“Ya’ll are getting buried in paperwork,” Benny slides up to us to perch on the edge of my desk.
“Way to state the obvious, Armstrong,” I grouse.
“Hey, Delaney, get your ass over here and help your partners,” Benny yells across three desks to his partner.
Her head pops up from behind her own monitor with a scowl firmly planted on her beautiful face.
“Come on, Delaney,” Dom urges her.
The frown deepens, but she does stand, ambling over our way.
“Why?” she asks once she’s standing in front of Benny. The near pout, a bottom lip protruding for the briefest of moments, disappears before it gets sucked between her teeth.
“Just ‘cause you…” Dom trails off finally looking away from the computer screen to see the scowl being sent his way.
I’m sure that finding her petulance and surly attitude sexy does nothing for me at this moment, but given the day, I enjoy it just the same.
“Hey,” Benny tries to de fuse the potentially bloody situation, “So let me get this right, you,” he points to me, “are still technically only cleared for desk duty,” he points to Nora, “and you went and got…well that is, Dan assigned you to desk duty?” He licks his lips and scoots back a little.
Nora nods. I say, “That would be correct.”
“So, if you two are stuck at your desks, technically,” he drawls slowly, “don’t that mean that Dominic and I are working this case together?”
My eyebrows hike and I look at Nora. Her head’s cocked to the side, digesting the obvious information.
“Huh,” Dom grunts, “Shit, well don’t that beat all.” He smiles a smug little smile and leans back, lacing his fingers behind his head.
He’s right. By default that puts Nora and I together.
That little shit.
I shake my head as a small grin breaks out across Nora’s face.
“Best damn news I’ve had all fucking day,” she finally breathes. Smacking Benny on the thigh, she directs, “All right get your ass up and get us some chairs. We’ve got some paperwork to sift through.”
Benny wiggles his eyebrows, proud of his accomplishment. Really, getting Nora to crack a grin after her and Dan go at it really is a miracle. He hops off my desk and rounds up two chairs.
Nora slides next to me and elbows me over. “So, what have we got?” she asks grabbing a stack of files.
“We were checking to see if there were any accounts that were volatile, maybe money missing, something that looked hinky or ya know enraging,” Dom supplies.
“Hmm,” Nora hums. “We call Charlie?”
“Yeah, he won’t be able to get to Lo’s body until tomorrow morning,” I answer. “He did approximate a time of death.”
“Which is?” Benny asks from his spot next to Dom.
“Anywhere from five to seven hours from the time the body was discovered,” I answer.
“Okay, so, Mrs. Walker said that she talked to Logan around ten p.m. , Nik, we were interrupted by Dom’s call around five-twen…” she trails off realizing her error.
“Five-twenty, ‘cause I called you shortly aft…” I try to cover up.
Dominic and Benny just shake their heads, grins threatening to break free. Dom holds out his hand and makes the ‘come-on’ motion to Benny. Rolling his eyes, Benny sighs and reaches for his wallet, pulls out a few twenties and slaps them in Dom’s outstretched hand. The other detective just grins and stuffs them in his pants’ pocket.
“So, you got the call at five-twenty,” Benny finishes Nora’s thought after he tucks his wallet away, “If the missus spoke to him at say ten then that means there’s a six and a half hour window. The cleaning lady called it in at four-forty-two a.m.”
“Let’s clock it at ten-thirty,” Dom picks up, “So that leaves us with a little over thirty-two hours to break this case open.” Dom shakes his head.
“We’re workin’ it from the wrong angle,” Nora’s voice comes back. “We’ve got a limited window. It’s gotta be someone he was expecting. We need his phone records, cell and business, yesterday.”
“I can do that,” Benny says. “Sharla, this little redhead at the phone company, is sweet on me, I can see if she can speed up the process.”
“We get anything from security?” Nora asks, toeing one of the boxes that have not been opened.
I tap two video cassettes on top of my desk that are off to the left.
“Why don’t you two go shake those phone records loose and Nikki and I’ll watch these, see if there’s anything here,” Nora stands and grabs the tapes.
Benny and Dom give a nod and gather their coats and keys to leave. Nora waits on me as I close up my desk and lock my computer. We’re about ready to head to the video room when Benny and Dom swing back around our way.
“We’ll give you two a call if we hit anything major,” Benny says. Pausing, he looks between the two of us then leans forward, dropping his voice, he whispers conspiratorially, “As careful as you two are, just remember to lock that vid room door; we wouldn’t anyone walkin’ in, ya know.” He pulls back, eyebrows dancing merrily and saunters away. Dom chuckles softly following him.
The heels of my hands rub at my eyes and I blink to try and clear the spots. Sitting here for the last three hours looking at grainy security footage has not been fun. Not only has it not been fun, but it’s given us absolutely nothing.
Nora must agree as she hits stop on the VCR. “So,” she groans and arcs back to stretch, “We’ve got an unidentified meeting Logan at ten-fifty-three…that’s all. They didn’t leave and we can’t tell if they were male or female.”
I run a hand through my hair and groan. “Probably the killer though,” I offer with little enthusiasm.
“Let’s hope Benny and Dom get something with the phone records, maybe that’ll help.” Nora stands and begins to put away the equipment when there’s a rap at the door.
A blonde head pokes through and I smile at the blue eyes and wide grin.
“I’m looking for one Det. Nikki Beaumont,” Jen drawls, stepping all the way in and shutting the door gently behind her.
Nora looks between the two of us and points to me. “You found her.”
Chuckling, I step up to the room’s new occupant and offer her a hug. “What are you doing here?” I ask as I let her go.
“Wanted to drop a few things off that might be of interest to you. Some of the files Logan had on his desk at Tilton,” Jen tells me and stretches out her hand to Nora, “Jennifer Scivik.”
Nora’s manners come out and she takes Jen’s greeting. “Det. Nora Delaney.”
Jen’s mouth slips open and she breathes, “Nice to finally meet The Infamous Nora Delaney?”
“Nik?” Nora questions.
Oh, boy.
I swallow and bite the bullet, “Jen’s a friend, Nora. She’s also the Vice President of Operations and Logan’s right hand gal at the firm.”
“Just a friend?” Jen chides lightly, “It appears all that I am is a mere speck of light in our beloved Beaumont’s time before she was transferred to this unit…and partnered with you.”
“You?” Nora snaps.
“Nora, please?” I ask gently.
Taken a little aback, Jen lays a hand to her chest and apologizes, “Sorry, detective, I didn’t mean…”
Nora just shakes her head and asks, “So you two were…”
Holding her hand up, Jen explains, “Many years ago, detective. She quit looking my way about the same time she started up here.”
“Jen, you make it sound so…” I chastise her.
“I’m sorry again. I like to tease Nikki here. I didn’t mean to step on any toes,” Jen apologizes again. “Really, I knew she was a goner the minute she started gushing about her new partner.”
Nora’s eyebrows hike, but she says, “Well, I’ll leave you two to catch up. I’m going to check in with the boys.”
I watch her scurry off, the door to the vid room closing a little too harshly for my tastes.
Jen winces. “I think I may have made you sleep on the couch tonight, didn’t I?”
I don’t dignify the question with a response and instead watch her as she moves to the table and takes my vacated seat. “You were trying to get me into trouble?” I finally ask.
Jennifer smirks and says, “Honestly, I’m not sure. I did drop off some files, gave them to a Dan Harney. He directed me here.”
“And you just had to see for yourself?” I saunter over to Nora’s chair and ease myself into it.
My blonde ex shrugs. “Are you telling me that if the roles were reversed…”
“I’m telling you that I never held anything back Jennifer and what I’ve told you has been in the strictest of confidence…” I interrupt her to remind her.
“So saying hello to the woman that you’ve talked to me about was a breach of that confidence? Jesus, Nikki I just said hello. I thought…”
I shake my head. “We’re at work. You know we can’t out ourselves here.”
She finally ducks her head and sighs. “I’m sorry. I just didn’t…I thought since no one was around it would be okay.”
“You thought wrong,” I say simply.
She nods and agrees, “It seems I did. I’m sorry.” She raises her head and looks me over. “You never told her about me?”
I shake my head. “We stopped seeing each other my first week here.”
“No sense bringing up the past?” she asks a little bitterly.
“No sense in stirring a pot that was removed from the fire,” I answer honestly.
“Right,” she breathes, running her hands along her thighs. “So, I’m out of line and a little embarrassed. You always did hold that hand of yours too close to your chest.”
“Only way to play good poker,” I smile at her this time, knowing she’s been properly put in her place.
“And you play a helluva hand.”
I dip my chin and fold my arms over my chest. “So, what was our dear Logan working on?”
“I brought the files for you to go over. The Renaissance House was his primary project. It took up a lot of his time. A lot of the organizations time. I brought you most of that and some additional paperwork that I need your signature on.”
“Of course,” I groan. “Sorry I haven’t been in…”
“You were shot. I swung by a few times, but you were either sleeping, being guarded by that cop of yours and one time you were gone - the nurse said testing. I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to see you.” She points to my hair and whistles.
“You didn’t meet Nora then?” I wonder.
She shakes her head. “She didn’t look up to it and I didn’t think…well, it didn’t seem the right time to introduce myself.”
“That was a kindness, thanks Jen,” I smirk.
“Well, sometimes I know when to not pull the claws out.” She blows off my olive branch and stands. “I’ll let you and the other detectives get to work. I want to see the bastard that killed Lo strung up. I’m glad you’re working on it.”
Standing with her, I head to the door and direct her out. She slides up next to me, her hand rests over mine pressing my hand into the door knob before she says, “She’s cute in that surly sort of way.”
I grin. “She’s amazing.”
“She would have to be if she’s keeping you. Do me a favor and apologize for me?”
I nod as she kisses my cheek and then strides down the hall to the stairwell.
I sigh and hang my head. Guess it’s time for some damage control.
Pinching the button on my blouse, I use the cotton material to fan myself. A bead of sweat trickles behind my ear and down my neck. Glancing at the other detectives, they don’t look near as warm as I do.
Nora looks up just then and locks her green eyes on to mine. “What’s wrong?”
Benny and Dom both look up from the file the three of them were looking over to see what Nora was talking about.
“Hot,” I say.
“Here,” Benny glides away from the table to the small thermostat by the door. “It’s at seventy-two. Hmm.” He fiddles with a knob or a button and I hear the air conditioning unit kick on. A cool breeze washes over me and I sigh.
“I may just have to plant one on you, Armstrong. Thank you,” I say gratefully.
“Hey, you ain’t gettin’ me shot. How about I take a nice handshake and we call it square,” he smiles as he walks back over to the table and plops down in his chair.
“You two were the only ones involved in that little wager?” Nora surprises us all by asking.
Dom and Benny both flush at the question.
“Nora, I don’t…” I try to warn her off but she shakes her head.
“Look, it’s obvious they think they know something. I want to know.” She’s adamant about this. I shrug. We talked over lunch about their exchange and about Jen. She was far calmer about the bet than she was Jen.
I suppose if I were in her shoes…
Well, Ann and Jill still cause small bouts of jealousy and insecurity, but not like they used to. If I’m honest, the first time I saw the three of them together, I wanted to rip Jill’s lips off while I cut Ann’s hands off.
The homicidal urges faded after a couple of years.
Now they just flirt with me as shamelessly as they flirt with Nora.
My girl doesn’t seem to mind when they do it, but anyone else…she’s impossible to manage.
Dom and Benny exchange a glance before Dom’s mouth opens, “Just us.”
Nora nods. “We going to have problems?”
Benny’s face pinches, but Dom’s clouds over as he balks, “I’d take a bullet for you Delaney. You really going to insult me by asking if I have a problem with which gender you like to do the horizontal hip to hip with?”
Nora doesn’t move and doesn’t answer. Dom carries on, “Just ‘cause I say some backwater bullshit don’t mean I’m backwater. Can’t have the rooks thinking we’re all touchy-feely like Benny, what good would that do them? They’d get their asses shot up for being bleeding heart pansies.” He grins at Nora and I, offering me a wink and a smirk. “Don’t mean I can’t set ‘em straight when they say some ignorant shit. Besides, it’s the best way to get a rise out of Benny. He’s so goddamn Zen about shit I need to ruffle those feathers somehow.”
“What that dipshit next to you is trying to say, both of you, we got your back…all of it,” Benny butts in. “You got people on your side here.”
Nora’s shoulders droop a little and she asks, “You two find anything in the phone records?”
Dom shakes his head. “There was a repeated phone number that matches the T.O.D. or there about, but it’s a prepaid phone. No name.”
“Well, all of Logan’s investment records are in order. He was doing well with the investments for Nora and me,” I fill in.
“If it wasn’t a client for his business, you both agree that it wasn’t a personal grudge,” Dom thinks out loud, “Then what about from your charity?”
“I just…we went over a few of those files; the Renaissance House was taking up a huge chunk of time. Logan usually isn’t one to be so hands on…not like he was for this project.” I shake my head.
“What exactly is it?” Benny asks pulling a stack of papers his way. He shifts and loosens the maroon tie around his neck and pops the top two buttons on his once crisp white shirt.
“It’s a transition house. From the executive overview that was given before I green lighted the project, Logan proposed a house that helped women and children in transition. Either coming from a battered women’s shelter, homeless shelter, jail, halfway house or the streets. It was a place they could stay; get help finding employment and a place to live. Logan wanted the place to also offer a low income daycare,” I answer and lean back in my chair lacing my hands over my stomach. “This was his baby.”
Dom’s eyebrows knit together and he asks, “He ever show any interest in this before?”
I shake my head. “Not really. Logan focused a lot on kids.” A wry smile breaks out and I say, “Well, he also funneled some money in to the N.O.P.D. He said that if I was working for it, they should have better equipment. He was able to get those new vests and emergency response vehicles for the department.”
“So why the shift in focus?” Nora wonders.
I shake my head. “I don’t know, but I loved the idea so I didn’t think much of it.”
“It’s worth a deeper look at,” Dom presses.
“Who else would know?” Benny leans forward; his arms fold across the table top.
“My aunt would, Tia maybe.” My mouth screws to the side before I lick my lips and decide, “Why don’t you two go talk to Tia, maybe she’ll give you guys some different information. I’ll take Nora with me to my aunt’s; see if she can shed some light.”
“You don’t think your friend was honest?” Benny prods.
“Could be that Mrs. Walker will look at you differently and be more forthcoming. We use our badge to make people nervous and talk,” Nora answers for me. “I think what Nikki is thinking is that Tia will be more nervous and say something that she usually wouldn’t in front of a friend.”
“Ah,” Benny bobs his head, “Can’t hurt. We’ve got nothing else.”
“How you gonna clear this with Dan?” Dom stands and begins organizing the papers.
I look down at my watch, look back up and grin, “It’s five-twenty-eight, what I do off the clock doesn’t concern Dan Harney.”
Waggling his finger at me, Benny smiles. “I like the way you work Beaumont. I like the way you work.”
“So we’ll go do a quick interview and then meet back here in the a.m.?” Nora stands along with the rest of us and helps Dom in his task.
“Aye, Aye, Cap’n,” Benny salutes.
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